U.S. sues Walmart, Branch Messenger over payment accounts for delivery drivers

Core Points - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a complaint against Walmart and Branch Messenger for allegedly forcing delivery drivers to use costly deposit accounts to receive their pay [3][4] - The lawsuit claims that Walmart and Branch opened accounts for over 1 million drivers in the Spark Driver Program without their consent and imposed more than $10 million in "junk fees" [1][4] - The CFPB accused Branch of failing to investigate errors, provide necessary disclosures, maintain records, and improperly requiring consumers to waive their legal rights [5] Company Actions - Walmart allegedly threatened drivers with termination if they did not use the Branch accounts and misled them about accessing their earnings [1][4] - The CFPB's actions are part of a broader initiative to address mishandling of consumer and worker financial accounts, with previous lawsuits against other financial institutions for similar issues [1][6] Financial Impact - The complaint highlights that drivers faced numerous delays and fees when transferring money from the Branch accounts, leading to significant financial losses [1][4]